By: Ahmed Abdelkader

Mobile communication technologies have become an important part of shaping our daily lives. Their evolution has changed our lives in the past, and will change them again with upcoming developments.

A new generation of network communication technologies is emerging on the horizon, bringing new capabilities and potential for mobile networks that will once again transform our lives: 5G networks.

What are 5G networks?

5G networks are still just a concept at this stage, generally focusing on enhancing coverage and data transfer speed. However, no specific standards have been agreed upon for 5G to date. All we know is that the International Telecommunication Union allows telecom companies to label anything as 4G as long as it offers better performance and capabilities than 3G. Similarly, we can venture to say that 5G networks will simply be anything better than 4G.

Let us first briefly review all generations of communication networks up to the present in a simple, easy-to-understand manner:

First Generation: Technologies that enabled phone calls while on the move.

Second Generation: Technologies that allowed sending text messages over mobile networks by converting data into digital signals.

Third Generation: Technologies that enabled sending and receiving multimedia communications—voice, images, and text.

Fourth Generation: Technologies classified as 4G focused on data speed. LTE, one of the 4G technologies, offers data speeds 8 times faster than 3G.

Fifth Generation: Finally, 5G is expected to offer download speeds of 1 gigabyte per second, 200 times faster than current 4G connections. Commercial rollout to users is expected in 2020.

Speed of 5G networks

Currently, the maximum speed of 4G LTE-A networks is 225 Mbps, downloading an 800 MB HD movie in about 28.4 seconds. At 50 Gbps, the maximum speed of 5G, the same movie would take less than a second.

We look forward to experiencing 5G, which will turn our imagination into reality, including 3D video calls, hologram calls, and the Internet of Things in its finest form—smart cars, smart homes, smart healthcare, smart markets, and more.

The magical solution to make the impossible possible and turn our dreams into reality lies in technology capable of downloading a 1 GB file per second over mobile networks.

What does this mean for us as users?

Samsung has already demonstrated amazing download speeds of up to 1 Gbps, noting that 5G-connected mobile users could download an entire movie in one second. If researchers at Cornell University are correct, 5G will provide a seamless and amazing experience. The incredible speeds of 5G will end tedious waiting and slow applications.

Undoubtedly, all of us have experienced frustration with video calls or waiting for buffering when watching online videos. Experts expect these negatives to become a thing of the past with the launch of 5G.

How do 5G networks work?

A technology called MiMo (Multiple Input Multiple Output) is set to play a key role in efficiency standards, according to researchers. MiMo uses many small antennas to serve data streams individually. Samsung has relied on this technology to achieve impressive download speeds.

5G networks are expected to use more base stations, including large broadcast sites and smaller stations using a spectrum of radio technologies to ensure better coverage. Australian Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull suggested that there could be a 5G base station in every home or on every lamppost. If successful, this model could be adopted worldwide.

Special requirements to keep up with 5G

Current smartphones and mobile devices are not equipped to benefit from 5G communication technology. Companies like Samsung, LG U+, and Huawei have already started experimenting with new 5G technologies. While these developments are still in early stages, future mobile devices will likely have longer-lasting batteries.

5G technology will enable mobile users to work faster and accomplish tasks more efficiently. New 5G phones may have multiple antennas; currently, they can only contain two antennas, but there is no information on the number in future 5G devices.

How long must we wait for 5G?

Based on the natural lifecycle of network evolution, 5G is expected around 2021. However, the South Korean government has invested $1.5 billion in upgrades to trial 5G in part of the country in 2017, with nationwide rollout by 2020. Other experts say 5G won't reach the US until 2018 or even the 2020 Olympics. It is unlikely to be offered as a service before 2025. Ericsson expects 5G availability by 2020, but gradual development has just begun.

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